If you have finally decided to go forward with refractive surgery, you should know that one size does not fit all. Dr. Tomy Starck and his team in San Antonio have developed an evaluation system that will be conducted when you arrive at the center. According to your specific eye characteristics and lifestyle, they will recommend the best option to allow you to decrease or altogether eliminate dependence on glasses or contacts.
To develop this system, UltraVision® Center performed extensive research on different procedures regarding their safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction. Once the procedures were selected, the second step was to place these technologies in one center to achieve the highest results and meet patient’s expectations.
UltraVision® Center is able to offer an array of options to correct difficult cases that otherwise are rejected in other centers with limited experience or resources.
The LASIK technique has been around for years, resulting in a lot of misinformation as the technology has changed. For example, the Zyoptix® system used for LASIK at UltraVision® is one of the few FDA approved wavefront-guided surgery platforms. This is in contrast with sound-a-like lasers called "wavefront optimizers" (Allegretto®). The differences are fundamental since the first corrects based on the total fingerprint of the eye, tackling all the irregularities of the eye, while the latter does not.
For the past year, Dr. Tomy Starck has been one of the few doctors in the country to provide ReStor® implants. If you are older than 40 years of age and desire independence from glasses not only for distance but for reading, ReStor® can be the answer. The surgery is outpatient (15-20 minutes) and performed under mild sedation.
The procedure is identical to a cataract surgery and can also be performed in such patients as well. Because the implants require precise calculation, the availability of the in-house laser platforms at UltraVision® allow "fine tuning" if necessary. It is critical that these techniques and technologies exist together under one roof to provide total flexibility and availability for the patient.
The combination of different surgical techniques (called Bioptics) has greatly improved the results and patient satisfaction at UltraVision®. These findings were recently presented at an International meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil where Dr. Starck was invited to speak.
Some patients are not ideal for LASIK. In such cases and on a one-by-one basis, other options can be offered. If the nearsightedness is above the range for safe corneal surgery, you may be a candidate for Verisyse® implants. These lenses are placed in front of the iris to correct high eye prescriptions.
Patients with myopia (nearsightedness) sometimes to their dismay learn that not only are they ineligible for laser surgery, but also have a corneal disease called Keratoconus. This weakening of the cornea may be progressive leading to disability or total dependence on rigid contact lenses.
UltraVision® now has the capability to implant small semicircular rings (Intacs®) via femtosecond laser to reinforce the cornea and reduce the need for contact lenses. If Dr. Starck’s evaluation eliminates this possibility, a major surgery like a corneal transplant can be avoided by performing a partial thickness replacement of the ill cornea (lamellar keratoplasty). This procedure reduces the chances of rejection, cuts down postoperative recovery time, and takes advantage of the incredible precision of the laser.
In summary, there are multiple options for the correction of refractive problems. Ideally, the combination of an experienced surgeon knowledgeable in such techniques accompanied by the latest technological advances under one roof makes the decision making process one step easier.
For more information, contact Dr. Starck with questions or to schedule a consultation.
Tomy Starck, M.D. is the Director of UltraVision® laser center, and formerly the Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the University Of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Starck is one of few surgeons who has completed his residency at the Barraquer Clinic in Bogota, Colombia under the direction of Dr. Jose Barraquer, the father of “Refractive Surgery.” He then continued his training at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School and three additional years as a resident in Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Dr. Starck is Board Certified in Ophthalmology and specializes in corneal diseases and eye surgery. He also received the Honor Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for his contributions to the field of Ophthalmology, including Lasik Surgery. He has published several peer-reviewed articles in medical journals reporting on wavefront and personalized Lasik technology. Dr. Starck has performed thousands of laser procedures and is one of the most trusted surgeons in the country.
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